chateau mukhrani wine tours

First things first; we were mid-way through a private wine-tasting tour through Georgia, just for fun, loving it but determinedly not buying because we had no way to get it home. But one taste of Chateau Mukhrani's 2012 Shavkapito (dry red from endemic Shavkapito grape, matured in Caucasian oak barrels) and we knew we had to make room in a suitcase somehow. It was the standout of our tour not, as it happens, Chateau Mukhrani's most prestigious wine but very much to our taste.To be quite clear, this was a visit to the Chateau Mukhrani estate and winery near Mtskheta, not to Chateau Mukhrani's wine studio/ shop/ cafe in central Tbilisi which has a separate Tripadvisor entry but as it features photos of the estate some visitors to the estate seem to be posting their reviews there - some confusion, clearly.Our tour began with a stroll from the winery over to the restored palace (a confection all in white) then underground through the spacious tunnel where the wine is matured, past some traditional-type kvevris in the process of being cleaned (hard work, I imagine) and back into the modern winery, then on to the shop for tasting. Our guide (fluent English speaker) was excellent. Photography was permitted.Production is entirely a 'chateau' concept i.e. grapes from the estate's own vineyards, not sourced from elsewhere. And while harvest was in full swing at wineries we visited in the Kakheti region, here north of Mtskheta it was not yet ready when we visited in late September so the winery was not in production, but being cleaned in preparation. The previous reviewer visiting slightly later seems to suggest tourists pick and trample grapes but this was not the experience of our visit.It goes without saying it is cheaper to buy wine (and chacha) direct from the producers and not at the airport.

It was an organized bus tour out of Tbilisi ,2 hour or so later we made two stops.Weather was not great and heavy traffic due to horrific accident ahead .Very common around here ,head on on a winding road.Apparently Eastern Gerogia wine country yields fantastic mountain view on a clear day .Nonetheless ,our first stop was a very unique winery /bead and breakfast.I will pot name and location later.Owner designed and built this sprawling fantasy estate with white horses in a barn,a swimming pool over looking the valley and mountains,interior decor and landscaping done with what they collected.A new structure with old big doors ,windows , and stepping stone .Georgian wine is harvested in while.pressed in whole, and stored to maturity in a big ceramic urn under ground for a few months to 2 years or so .It yields a murky dark red wine.Tey do make rose and white ,too.Then they make cha cha ,a strong after dinner drink .Don't drive after this one.I enjoyed Georgian food with middle eastern flavor ..BBQ meats,variety of salads,side dishes all freshly prepared.Many produce come from Turkey too.Then we went to Chateau winery .Tourists as we are pick grapes in a field,collect them to be put in a big wooden vat.You put on big rubber boots and climb in and press the grapes.Juice runs down the trough to a vat in a ground.They give you a glass to catch the juice to try .Sweet and flavorful.Then we go through a museum with history of wine,beginning of the winery and so on.Ends with a heavy late lunch ...Georgian food with bread you made, and a snack you made .

Great place with nice people and fabulous atmosphere :) I enjoy my visits here very much and recommend everyone to visit the estate

Валико – добродушный и щедрый (министр),Каждый день, над Курой, мы в шашлычною с ним:Тост за Грузию, Родину, мать и … не быстро − Лишь за месяц, отведали около сотни грузинских вин.